Practice Energy-Efficient Cooking

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How to take action

• When buying new appliances, always choose ENERGY STAR [PDF] to maximize energy efficiency.
• A full set of energy-efficient cooking tips can be found in the Green Your Home Appliances Guide. These include items such as:
  • Use smaller appliances when possible. Slow-cookers (crock pots), toaster ovens, and microwave ovens use less energy than your full-size oven. When you do use your oven, try to cook more than one dish at a time – fill the oven to make the most of the energy you're using.
  • Thaw food in the refrigerator. This reduces the energy required to run your fridge, as it contributes to cooling. Thawing in the microwave uses much more energy.
  • Use pots with flat bottoms. Use the stove-top element most closely matched in size to the size of the pot. Cook with a lid whenever possible to retain heat.
  • Use glass or ceramic cookware instead of metal. You can turn your oven heat down by 14˚C (25˚F) and your recipe will cook in the same amount of time.
  • Use the window to peek at a recipe's progress; opening the door releases energy and can slow your cooking time. Turn the oven off 15-20 minutes before cooking time is over; your food will continue to cook while you reduce energy use.
• For energy-saving food preparation ideas and recipes, see Recipes, Cooking Tips Add Juice to the Holiday Feast.
• Reduce other energy use in your kitchen by being efficient with refrigeration and when washing dishes.

Why it makes a difference

• Cooking habits and choice of appliances can make a significant difference in how much energy you use. The same meal cooked in an electric oven takes twice as much energy as it would in a toaster oven, three times as much energy as it would in a slow cooker (crock pot) – and about six times as much energy as it would in a microwave.